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Research interests

We study the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase or SERCA pump in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), which, together with other important SR proteins, make up the membrane system that regulates calcium inside the muscle cells of our bodies. Our research focuses on understanding: 1) the overall regulation of SR function in muscle and how defects in the structure/function of SR proteins cause Ca2+ handling abnormalities that contribute to fatigue, weakness and disease and 2)the factors involved in regulating Ca2+ transport efficiency by SERCA pumps and to determine if alterations in Ca2+ transport efficiency can affect metabolic rate and susceptibility to diet-induced obesity and type II diabetes.